'Stop using aura to defend!' - Twitter reacts to Van Dijk's error vs Man Utd

FT Desk

• Updated: 22 Aug 2022 23:05 BST
• 6 min read

Fans have been quick to criticise Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk for his role in Jadon Sancho's opener in Manchester United's first Premier League win of the season.

Erik ten Hag's side ran out 2-1 winners over Liverpool, with a late Mohamed Salah goal not enough to mount a comeback after Sancho and Marcus Rashford netted their first goals of the campaign.

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The result means Man Utd leapfrog Jurgen Klopp's men in the table, with Liverpool now down in 16th place after two draws and one defeat in their opening three fixtures of the 2022-23 season.

Van Dijk, in particular, has received online backlash for his part in Sancho's goal.

After Anthony Elanga and Christian Eriksen exchanged a neat one-two on the edge of the Liverpool penalty area, which left Trent Alexander-Arnold in no man's land, the Sweden international Elanga pulled the ball back to Sancho on the penalty spot.

The Englishman sized up a shot and dummied, which fooled James Milner into a slide tackle, before he took his time to place a shot into the bottom corner. Van Dijk has been hit with backlash after the Liverpool defender stood motionless in the box, rather than close down Sancho and potentially prevent the goal.

The mistake from the Dutchman is even more noteworthy given the fact he gave away a penalty against Fulham on the opening day, which cost Liverpool a win, and he let Wilfried Zaha fire a shot into the far corner against Crystal Palace, rather than engage with the Ivorian.

All in all, it's been a poor start to the season for both Liverpool and Van Dijk, and the player has been criticised on Twitter for his part in Man Utd's victory.

What has been said online?